INTERNATIONAL: The World Health Organization has now revealed the name of the new Covid-19 variant B.1.1.529 detected in South Africa. The WHO has named it as "Omicron". Scientists characterises the variant as more transmissible than the Delta variant.

They say it has a "very unusual constellation" of mutations, which are concerning because they could help it evade the body's immune response and make it more transmissible.

It was first discovered in diagnostic laboratories in the most populated province of Gauteng in South Africa and believed already spread to eight other provinces.

South Africa has confirmed around 100 specimens as B.1.1.529, but the variant has also been found in Botswana and Hong Kong, with the Hong Kong case from a traveler from South Africa. As many as 90% of new cases in Gauteng could be B.1.1.529, scientists believe.

South Africa was also the first country to detect the Beta variant last year. Beta is one of only four labelled "of concern" by the WHO because there is evidence that it is more contagious and vaccines work less well against it.